But, labelled as having unbiased news about Iraq and one which reveals the truth about US’ invasion in Middle East, Malaysia welcomed it with open arms. With Kuala Lumpur being its flagship station in the Asian region, Al-Jaazera made its way into the highly censored Malaysian media.

Broadcasting from the Petronas Twin Towers, the pride of the nation, it was also said the government was so pleased with Al-Jazeera English that it was granted MSC status, one which effectively exempt the news channel from paying any taxes for a minimum of 5 years, amongst other goodies. Please note this piece of information is unconfirmed, but I wouldn’t be surprise if it’s true.

One thing for sure, the Malaysian government was very happy and proud to have Al-Jazeera broadcasting from Kuala Lumpur. Forget about CNN or BBC, Malaysia has Al-Jazeera! And seriously… CNN vs BBC vs Al-Jazeera, which one do you think Malaysia will favour?

But lo and behold, I am sure it never occurred to the Malaysian government that while it can ask almost 100% of the media to “shut-up” when it comes to sensitive news, it failed to check its pet, this Al-Jazeera station. Now, we all know which station did the honour of putting our country at the world’s stage in the last 2 weeks. And now, the whole situation changed.

Now, Al-Jazeera is said to have very good ‘actors’ as their reporters. Al-Jazeera was branded by that that that that that minister as a channel trying to portray Malaysia as a non-democratic country. Al-Jazeera was said to be ‘trying to confuse people living overseas’, again by that that that that that that minister.And the best part is, where Al-Jazeera was once labelled as having unbiased news, suddenly that that that that that minister is saying that Al-Jazeera has biased coverage.

How fast things can change. And how funny when a pet bites its owner. When I look at the whole thing, I just find it so amusing. I guess this is what they call “harap pagar, pagar makan padi”.

Then Information Minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir (the predecessor of that that that that that minister?) made this statement in a telephone interview regarding the launch of Al-Jazeera in Malaysia…“It gives us an opportunity to be a role model and example and inspiration to the rest of the world”

35 comments:

adrian
said...

All MSC companies get tax exemptions for a certain number of years( perhaps 5, I cant recall).

This is typical Bolehland mentality govt isn't it. When it suits us, we praise it to high heavens and take pride in it. when it goes against us, we make noise and deny, deny, deny. Just like the many surveys that were done about things in our country, corruption index (we accuse its flawed), etc.

These leaders ah, had always overestimate their own intelligence but had many times underestimate the intelligence of other fellow human beings. Al Jazeera is an international body of middle-class educated people, and they understand very well the value of democracy and human rights.

These leaders ah... must know that most of the employees there were not the product of their debilitating education system which produce far more robots than productive liberal citizens.

Well, the fact that several Middle Eastern countries booted Al-Jazeera out should have been a "warning" sign that Malaysia should take heed that these people are not going to be cowed to obey the leaders of their broadcasting nations.

Zewt,The love AlJazeera when the newschannel was reporting about the atrocities committed by Iraelis and The Americans in The Arab Countries. Now they hate AlJazeera because the cameras are now pointed towards Malasyia. Little did they know that this channel is not going to toe the lines after giving them all the freebies. See Husin Lempoyang fine imitation of how Zam the minister of information reacted in Kak Ton's Tok Mommy blog which I reproduce in part belowI commend yo-yo-your journalists trying to project... to exaggerate more than what actually happened. That-that-that-that's it. We are not the-the and I-I congratulate your journalists behaving like an actor, that-that's it...Read the full text at her latest blog comment.

Al Jazeera shot itself in the foot in the Hindraf. The same guy, same style, same delivery minus the runnin' and huffin'. They played the same script once too many that made them look like bad guys to the kampong folks who consider RTM 1 the good guy.

this fella realy brings the information ministry into disrepute. time for him to take leave and stop embarrasing the nation further. wonder how did he receive his tokoh of journalism award? really beats me.

oh our naive gamen! they shud feel honoured AJ has chosen here to be its Asian hub over the likes of S'pore and HK. Now they r blaming AJ for bias when AJ is just holding on to their principle in reporting the truth on what's really going on here. Seems like the one trying to spread false information and cover up the truths is the gamen instead. Gah! I can't beliv the majority of M'sians r still so naive to support them all these yrs!

I bet Astro now has an independent channel dedicated to AJ English for 24 hours (we've terminated our astro subscription for 1 yr plus)? Last time AJ has to share the same channel with Astro News and DWTV if I'm not mistaken... The reason I like AJ is bcos of their different approach in reporting world news from the dominating Anglo-American perspectives in CNN & BBC (tho i still love the latter 2). Even though it's an Arab channel headquartered and financed by Qatar (an emirate, hence, Islamic), it does not censor any news touching on Christianity (think of its wide coverage on the Pope John Paul II's death, papal election and Pope Benedict XVI's ascension, as well as the Pope's papal visit to Turkey), which is really a praise-worthy move by an Arab channel.

I still remember I was waiting in front of my TV last yr and counting down to its official launch in the English language (my home has this *beep* China satellite dish which can reciv channels like AJ English, DWTV (German information/news channel), CCTV etc for 24 hrs). Heh.